The percentage composition of metallic silver coins can be used to analyse and explain the locations and identification of coin mines. Furthermore, it provides certain information about the economic and political conditions of the era under study. Commercial activity and population growth increased the demand for silver, forcing the Sasanians to look for new sources for this metal. The aim of this work is to study the chemical composition of these Sasanian coins in order to find possible connections between the mines used for extraction of silver and the actual silver coins minted at the time. Using the wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique, the metallic elements Fe, Cu, Zn, Ag, Au and Pb were traced. The results indicate that Sasanian kings used one type of mines for their coins.

During excavations of the Shahrake Firouzeh site, much evidence of the Bactria Margiana Archaeological Complex or Amu Darya Civilization has been found. Such evidence is spread across northern Iran, northern Afghanistan, eastern Turkmenistan, southern Uzbekistan, and western Tajikistan. In the present study, pottery samples from the Firoozeh town area were studied using XRD and XRF methods. Using the XRF method and Dplot Software, 15 samples were studied and the data evaluated by analyzing the ratio of various components. The results of the study show that the dominant clay source of the pottery samples existed in the same region, while two other clay subsources from adjoining regions were also identified.

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The Umayyads founded the Umayyad dynasty under the leadership of Muawiyah Ibn Abu Sufyan in 41 AH (662 AD) and this government continued until 132 AH (753 AD) (Hawting, 1986, pp.35-39). During Muawiyah's reign, Damascus became the capital of the Islamic State. The territory ruled by them was extended to India in the east and to the Iberian Peninsula in Spain in the west. Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, the fifth Umayyad caliph (686-707 AD/ 65-86 AH), saved the Umayyad government from chaos when it was on the verge of collapse and, thereby, was able to bring about some reforms in the administrative and financial affairs of the state. Following him, Walid ibn Abd al-Malik (707-717 AD/ 86-96 AH) reached the height of power. The most important issue in the Walid era was the expansion through conquest, which included the conquest of Transoxania, Sindh, Africa, Andalusia, and conquests on the Roman front. These conquests are of special significance in Walid's political performance. Also, Walid's interest in developmental affairs and, of course, in the treasury that his father had left him, made him have an eye for the Caliphate's development in addition to his own interests (ibid). During the era of Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik (717-720 AD/ 96-99 AH), the number of conquests fell sharply compared to that of Walid's period. After him, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (720-722 AD/99-101 AH) came to rule. His political actions were mostly directed towards the preservation of conquest and supervision of the governors' performance in different regions. Then, Yazid bin Abd al-Malik (722-726 AD/ 101-105 AH) came to rule until the reign of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (726-746 AD/ 105-125 AH). Hisham's rule is a brilliant era in the history of the Umayyads and conquests continued during his period (Maqrizi, 1967, p.54).